Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-11-11

think you"
"Thank you, Bobby,"I said, kissing his
Jolly fat cheeks. 81 don't feel like 20 yet,
and what dear old boy you will be when
am But now about Tim. | was going to
have party TO night, and measles won't do
well with that.
But il had to do, inasmuch as there was
no time to put off any body, and ''the par
ty" got as far as my closed front door,
where they were met by an affable police
man, on duty for the purpose at five shil-
lings for the job, who informed them with
bated breath that there was infection in
the 'ouse, and the grinding wheels were
all that heard of my guests for a long
while afterward.
One Of them wishing to combine kind
ness and caution, sent me a note of inquiry.
''Dear Hannah-How is your nephew
but please, DEAR don't send an answer"
Tim was a dear fellow, and | did not
catch the measles He, too, was compli-
mentary and encouraging about my age
and infrmities, and went so far as to won
der if | hadn't been rather pretty when |
was young.
That night as Aisie was brushing my re-
bellious locks ventured on timid inqui-
ry. "Ailsie, dear" l said in wheedling ac-
cents twas ever at all nice-looking when
! was young I"
"When you was what, dearie y
Young, Ailsie-young.
"Well,n answered the dear old thing,
posing the brush in the air, its so long
ago you see, Miss Hannah you can't ex-
pect me to throw my memry back so far.
ooh, don't tease me. Ailse | really
want to know" pleaded.
We'll, then, my dear, you was, and
what's more, you are and that's the gos-
pei truth, and many's the one that thinks
sesame as me-"
Why should / care : and yet did 1t
was not because | was too ugly, then, that
Mike had escaped from me. Other people
had at times talked nonsense to me, when
my heart had been too weary TO take heed
and my ister-in law had chidden me for
not responding when the takers had been
eligible. All that seemed long ages ago,
and now | was solitary and moderately
rich woman, with house of my own, and
a parrot and terrier; and | could be and
was Of use to many of my family, whose
unfailing motto was as Of old-"she won't
mind :" and no one guessed that | was glad
1 was not ugly Had they been asked what
| my opinion might have been on the subject
| they would have, as usual, believed me in
different. If passed as good creature"
a
at the fool, maybe. TINS good opinion
cheered me wonderfully. and | saw him
start for home with thorough regret.
a few days later, the sweeps being in
possession of the drawing room, a telegram
| came announcing the arrival of one of my
nieces for a violin lesson in my house, 'if
| did not mind Hurriedly had the piano
rescued from up stairs and carried into my
| little front snuggery and just as it was
| put into place by the awkward but willing
helpers we had caught at moments no
tice, my niece arrived and with her came a
graceful, lady like girl, whose looks attract
ed me greatly.
Ruth, this is Aunt Hannah, said my
niece. You didn't mind, did you, Aunt
Hannah We thought you would not and
Ruth plays my accompaniments so well.
| We always play together now
| had been so long away from the old
home that had fallen out of the knowl-
edge of the young peoples friends but
from Ruth's looks was glad she should be
one of them, whoever she might be
The violin master came, and the lesson
gave me intense pleasure. Ruth's accom-
paniment was perfect and as the violin
was being carefully wiped and restored tc
its case begged her to play me some
thing-any thing-whateve she loved best
-Mendelssohn for choice, if she would" One
after another she played my best loved old
friends, and turned impatiently when the
footman opened the door and said gentle
man had called for the young lady with
Miss Grey
MY uncle said Ruth, apologetically.
pray ask him to come in, | said anC
the next moment Mike stood once more be
fore me- He bowed little shyly, and l.
with my back TO the window, stood spell
bound and silent.
Yes, it was Mike-huge winsome Mike
and must greet him as best might,
"Mr Vivian l faltered, Il had NJ
idea it was you"
Hannah" he shouted; Miss Grey
Why | was sent to Miss Sinclair's Hav,
come to the wrong house ~
The young people flew to him open
mouthed about this wonderful thing, an(
chartered, mercifully to me, till | had re
covered my balance a little.
From time TO time | felt his eye upon me
and grew a trife hot and angry under it
Why should he look at me in that way II,
had been married for years, and well,
had settled into my old maid ways-and
had got over it, as the saying goes.
As il we ever lost "the marks of tina
which once had been"
As they all trooped out together, he turn
ed back at the door, and grasping my hant
tightly said why did you say not at home
nine long years ago q
II didn't l exclaimed Indignantly, il
a stifed voice, you never came
Didn't = he answered, and then h
was gone.
That night slept not at all. Beckwar,
and forward that refrain rang in my ears
Didn't II" Didn't (" Oh, Mike, oh
faithful hearted Mike, have | been wrong
ing you all these years Did you come
did you i--and never knew it-and nov
it is too late.
Does she love you, wonder, as l did
as do God help me, l must live it dow
and crush it under foot but for this on
night | will allow myself the joy of know
ing that he did come the rest | canno
even guess at
Happy. miserable, restless and yet sooth
ed, | came down the next morning an
found could settle down TO nothing in tn
way of business. The piano stood wher
it had been placed the day before for tn
girls. and after many vain efforts to attent
to writing which ought to have been done
wandered up to it and sat me down list
lessly, irving to pick up the thread of a
that child's sympathetic fingers had don
such full justice to and as l played IN
; heart grew lighter and by degrees III
? Mendelssohns modulated off into lghte
, music, and l found myself beating tim
once more with my foot to that Waldteuft
waltz which had been dearer to me tina
all beside How played it threw m
heart my whole heart into it and as
came to the final chord l suddenly fun
my arms upon my desk in front of me an
7 burst into such passion of weeping as
never in all my life had given way to. Ho'
, long wept l do not know but know
that then and there prayed with all III
might for strength 10 root out. for goo
2 and all. this cruel, absorbing, disgracfl
love- and rising with one last strangled sol
and a firm determination that not anothe
should escape now or ever again, | saw th
door opening quietly, and i'll one momen
Mike had hold of both my hands. In val
l tried to pull them away. They wer
gently but firmly gripped, and his dea
voice spoke rapidly in agtated, lovin
! tones.
Don't speak | know what you thinl
Let me speak first for the sake of the dea
old times Let me clear up matters frs
, am not the blackguard you think me-
4 God forbid Sit down, and let me speak,
What could l do but obey him ST
down, and as he spoke my heart leape
r and danced within me till ! could hay
d shouted for Joy and yet felt ashamed {
n my delight. For had he not gone throug
deep waters, dear fellow The poor, littl
5 frivolous, childish wife had lived but OIL
p year, but had wrought such havoc m TIN
e short time that it were more charitable
I tell nothing of it to any who did not kno
o the miserable story already. Peace be vii
e her, poor thing. l need think of her I
more.
y Then came the explanation of our ow
n misfortunes. He had gone straight fro
. IL. .a-.LalLl. lALL-n III